Ontario Office-to-Residential Conversion Act Voted Down

The Ford Government of Ontario, Canada, voted down the Commercial-to-Residential Conversion Act 2024, which would have cut red tape and sped up such conversions by up to two years as office vacancy rates — along with the need for housing — rises, outlets including Storeys reported on October 25. The bill, presented by Ontario Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Karen McCrimmon earlier in 2024, would have removed a part of the Environmental Protection Act that exempts changes to building use based on building height. Progressive Conservative (PC) leader MPP Doug Ford and fellow PC members voted down the bill with 67 nays to 36 ayes. Disagreeing with the decision, McCrimmon observed the bill had the support of the Ontario Real Estate Association and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. The City of Toronto is undertaking an “office space needs study” that includes proposing to “add residential uses above existing office buildings, convert office to residential uses or demolish office buildings entirely.”